Once you’ve selected your lumber, drill a hole for each light cord. I started with a spacious zig-zag pattern but it’s whatever you like really. Affix junction boxes to the top-side of the lumber and wire the lights into them. Screw an eyelet into each corner of the top-side of the lumber, at least an inch in from any side.

If the lumber is extra heavy you could consider another length of chain and place two more eyelets to support a chain in the center. If ceiling joist placements allows you could also use four lengths of chain straight up to four hooks instead of the swing system I employed.

Screw the hooks firmly into ceiling joists, hang the fixture and wire whichever junction box is closest into the ceiling electrical. If possible the power cable would be less noticeable if it snaked to the ceiling along one of the support chains.

Once hung you can adjust the heights of the hanging bulbs and coil the extra cable on top, it’s not coiled very neatly in some of these pictures but I have since remedied that. There you have it.

I added a photo showing the top side of the fixture. I did not cut the light wires to length as I may use them in another project down the road. I coiled them neatly and just used some twist-ties to secure them.

Can you tell me details on the larger white electric wiring on the light. My husband and I are trying to build this today. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Any problem with doing a plug end instead of hardwiring into electrical?

No problems with using plugs at all. Grounded sockets are always better, but are not required for these lights as they are indeed not grounded (two-wire). The larger wiring is just standard Romex household wiring, usually it’s behind drywall or whatnot.